PA UC income requirements: Minimum earnings needed to requalify for unemployment in 2025?
I was laid off last October and collected unemployment for about 16 weeks before finding a new job in February. Unfortunately, the company I'm with now is really struggling and I'm worried about another layoff soon. I've only been working here for about 5 months. If I get laid off again, would I qualify for a new unemployment claim? How much do you have to earn to requalify for PA UC benefits? I've heard different things about base year earnings and qualifying wages but I'm confused about the exact requirements. Is there a minimum number of months I need to work? My previous benefit was $410/week if that matters for calculating a new claim.
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Liam Fitzgerald
To requalify for a new UC benefit year in PA, you need to earn at least 6x your weekly benefit rate after the start of your previous claim AND meet the regular financial eligibility requirements. So with your previous WBR of $410, you'd need to earn at least $2,460 since your last claim started. But that's just one requirement. You also need: 1. At least 18 credit weeks in your base year (weeks where you earned at least $175) 2. Total base year wages of at least $2,900 3. At least 37% of your wages earned outside your highest quarter Your base year would be the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file a new claim.
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Mei Lin
•Thanks for explaining! If I'm understanding correctly, since I've been working 5 months at around $3,500/month, I should have enough earnings to qualify for a new claim? That's over $17,000 total which seems way above the minimum. Do they look at my previous benefit amount when calculating a new one?
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GalacticGuru
when i refiled last year they told me i needed 6x my weekly benefit and new work. sounds like u got enough. the real question is did u work long enough now for them to use those wages? my cousin got denied becuz she didnt work long enough for them to use her new job in the calculations, sumthing about it being in the lag quarter?
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Liam Fitzgerald
•That's a good point about the lag quarter. PA uses the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters as the base year. So if OP files in July-Sept 2025, their base year would be April 2024-March 2025. If they started the new job in February 2025, only 2 months of those wages would be in the base year. The rest would be in the lag quarter (April-June 2025), which isn't counted.
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Amara Nnamani
Here's what matters for requalifying in PA: 1. The 6x rule - You must earn 6x your prior weekly benefit rate after starting your previous claim (sounds like you've done this) 2. Base year earnings - These must meet the minimum requirements again ($2,900 total, at least 37% outside highest quarter, 18+ credit weeks) 3. Timing - As others mentioned, when you file matters. The base year is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before filing. If your new job's wages fall mostly in the lag quarter, you might need to wait to file. One option if you get laid off and your new wages aren't in your base year yet is to reopen your existing claim if you still have balance and time left in your benefit year. Another option is to wait until the quarter changes so your new wages count.
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Mei Lin
•This is super helpful, thank you! My previous benefit year would be ending in October, so I think I'd have to file a new claim anyway. I started the new job in February, so it sounds like I need to be careful about when I file if I get laid off. Would it be better to file right away or wait until October when the quarters change?
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Giovanni Mancini
I just went through this exact same situation back in April! Got laid off last year, found new job, then got laid off again after 4 months. Was a total nightmare trying to get through to anyone at UC to explain my options. Spent 3 days calling nonstop and getting busy signals or disconnected.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•Have you tried Claimyr? I was in the same situation last month with constant busy signals. My friend recommended claimyr.com and it got me through to an agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The agent explained exactly which quarters would count for my base year and whether I should file a new claim or reopen my old one. Totally worth it instead of wasting days trying to get through.
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Dylan Cooper
WORST SYSTEM EVER!!! I had the same issue and got DENIED even though I worked enough hours!!! Then they said I had to PAY BACK $1800 because I didn't qualify for a new claim!!! I had to file an appeal and wait 9 WEEKS for a hearing, meanwhile NO MONEY coming in!!! The hearing examiner finally fixed it but the stress was unbelievable!!! Make sure you check which quarters they're using before you apply!!! The system is designed to trip you up and deny benefits even when you deserve them!!! Of course no one answers the phones to actually EXPLAIN anything!!
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Mei Lin
•That sounds awful! I definitely want to avoid that situation. Did you eventually get benefits? I'm starting to think I should talk to someone at UC before filing if I do get laid off, just to make sure I don't mess anything up.
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Liam Fitzgerald
To answer your follow-up question - when you file would depend on when you get laid off and how your wages fall in the quarters. If you get laid off soon: - Filing in July-Sept 2025: Your base year would be April 2024-March 2025, so only 2 months of your new job would count - Filing in Oct-Dec 2025: Your base year would be July 2024-June 2025, so 5 months of your new job would count If you don't have enough wages in the first scenario, you might be able to use the Alternate Base Year which uses the most recent 4 quarters including the lag quarter. You'd need to request this specifically. If you do have enough other wages in your base year to qualify without the full 5 months of your new job, filing sooner might be better than waiting with no income.
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GalacticGuru
•wait theres an alternate base year????? nobody told me about that when i got denied! they just said i didnt have enough wages and that was it! i went 2 months with no income b4 i could refile!
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Amara Nnamani
One more important thing about requalifying: The 6x earnings rule applies specifically to establishing a second benefit year. That means you need to have earned at least 6x your weekly benefit rate in employment covered by UC after the start of your previous benefit year AND before filing for a new one. In your case with a $410 weekly benefit, you'd need at least $2,460 in covered earnings since your previous claim started in October 2024. With 5 months at $3,500/month, you've easily met that requirement. The timing issue others have mentioned about base year quarters is separate from this requirement but equally important for qualification.
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Mei Lin
•Thank you for clarifying! It's confusing because there seem to be multiple requirements all working together. If I do get laid off, I think I'll try to speak with a UC representative before filing to make sure I do it at the right time. Sounds like timing really matters for how they calculate everything.
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Giovanni Mancini
So is the takeaway that it's better to wait until October to file a new claim if possible? I'm confused about what's best if OP gets laid off soon.
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Amara Nnamani
•It depends on several factors: 1. When exactly the layoff happens 2. What other wages are in their base year besides the new job 3. Whether they've used all benefits from their previous claim If they have enough qualifying wages in their base year even without all 5 months of the new job, filing immediately might be fine. If not, waiting until October when the quarter shifts could help include more of the new wages. But going months without filing just to get a better base year isn't always the best approach either. Sometimes it's better to file with what you have if you qualify, especially if you need the income right away.
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